First and Last

"I genuinely admire both of them. I think that we make a terrible mistake believing we have to find something wrong with the people we can't vote for." Bill Clinton on the View.

I'm pretty sure this is the first time I have ever used a Clinton quote, other then to make fun of him. I also tend to think its something I may never do again. However he is dead on with this comment, and its exactly they way I have felt throughout this cycle. I have a always liked and respected John McCain, just like I like and respect Obama. I read views form the left and the right. The biggest thing I notice is that people on the right just love to try and belittle and attack Obama, and people on the left though they seemed initially reluctant, now feel free to do the same to McCain. 

Why is this, why can't we can't show some respect, even if we don't agree? Everyday, we face people with different opinions, are we this aggressive, cruel, and disrespectful to those people? 

Here's an even harder question, why does it seem that some of my fellow christians are sometimes the worst offenders in this political game? Do we really think this is the way Jesus would approach politics?

To Debate, or not to debate?

Are you kidding me!! To some people, the most important part of the campaign process is the debates.  And it should be, you can say anything you want in an ad, or at a rally. The debates are the only chance we get to see these guy face off, and discuss issues. Maybe this debate was supposed to be about another issue, and thats still a major concern, but clearly we have something else to discuss too.

I understand we face a troubling time, and there is much to be decided. But the world or the United States of America will not come to an end if McCain and Obama take a few hours to meet, answer questions, and discuss the very issues we as a country are now facing. In fact, being in this situation right now, might make for a better debate. They can't just talk about what I want to do, and might do, but must talk about what's going on today, what effects every single American today. So lets get it on!!!

On a side note, debates are not just thrown together, this has been in the works since 2006. From what I have heard Ole Miss has spent over 5 million dollars getting the campus and venue ready for this. The secret service has worked extensively with the university to make sure it is up to snuff for this, I would guess at a pretty substantial cost. So what happens if it doesn't happen??? What if McCain doesn't show up, and Obama does??? Well one way or another it seems like we are going to have a nationally covered event, will is be a debate, or a just be come a nationally televised Q & A with Obama???

Life is short, dig in!

A friend passed away this week, he was young, late 30's. He had a wife and young son, who had to watch him deteriorate and eventually die before their eye's as he battled cancer. It was a short fight, and though he is missed by many people, those of us that really knew him, know he is in a far better place. 

His death has distracted me from the nonsense of politics for a little while. And while I'm not sure I really have much disire to write, right now, my friends death does remind me how short life can be. Which makes me remember how important this election is, how it can effect our lives, and how many issues will have to be faced in the next couple of years by which ever candidate wins.

I beg everyone to dig into the facts, don't just watch and listen to partisan garbage. Don't be afraid to open your mind a little, and as one friend says "turn the beach ball", its to easy to get stuck on one idea.  Too many elections have been decided by noise, distorted truths and down right lies. Only WE can change that, so lets get started!

My 9/11

I was in NYC on 9/11, working for The Salvation Army on 14th street. My office was basically a box in the middle of the building, so no windows, no connection to the outside world unless I had the radio on, which I didn't. Just after the planes hit my dad called me, I guess because he wondered why he hadn't heard from me. He asked if knew what was going on, I thought he was just giving me a hard time because my day was spent in this box cut off from everything. He told me I needed to go upstairs where I could look out the windows, so I did. 

To my shock there was smoke billowing out of the towers, while I was trying to get the story of what happens someone screamed, we all turned to watch the 1st building crumble. Of course we were all horrified, not just because of what was happening, but because we all knew that we had coworkers that had already gone down there as first responders. There was no way to get in touch with those guys at that point(they were all physically OK in the end), all the phones were down, even the FDNY radio that was kept in the building wasn't working. No one really knew what was going on, all the high level people were called together(I don't recall why I was in there, as I was not one of these people), and it was quickly decided that anyone that wanted to, could leave. Then the room went silent as everyones thoughts turned to what we would have to do next. I remember the CEO started to talk, and then said, we need to pray, and thats what we did for a couple minutes. he said amen, and we started working. 

Things happened so fast that it all kinda blurs together. One thing I distinctly remember is that in what felt like a couple hours it was already the next day, many of us worked for 2-3 days before we ever even sat down, forget sleeping. While most of the world sat watching TV getting the story, we just did what needed to be done. 

I remember several days later, in the middle of the night, it was the first time I actually stood at the pile, I stopped and looked at the pile of rubble, just a few feet in front of me, I was shocked and overwhelmed, I had been so busy working that it didn't really sink in until then. The image was forever ingrained in my mind. 

To this day there aren't many days that go by that something doesn't trigger that image in my mind, it has forever impacted the way I look at the world, my life, my family, and even the way I look at politics. But today is not a day for politics, today is a day to remember those that were lost, and those who's lives were forever changed by the events of that day.

Same Sex Marriage

Here's a subject that has been a hot button issue for many years, one the right there has been a strong consistent attack on same sex rights, on the left a strong push for same sex rights. But where is this issue in this election cycle, has it become a non-issue? If so, why?

Here's the stance of both candidates:

As president, John McCain would nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is not to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments do act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must not overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question.

The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. It is only this definition that sufficiently recognizes the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilizing, and strengthening communities and our nation.

As with most issues vital to the preservation and health of civil society, the basic responsibility for preserving and strengthening the family should reside at the level of government closest to the people. In their wisdom, the Founding Fathers reserved for the States the authority and responsibility to protect and strengthen the vital institutions of our civil society. They did so to ensure that the voices of America's families could not be ignored by an indifferent national government or suffocated through filibusters and clever legislative maneuvering in Congress. (from www.JohnMcCain.com)

It seems Obama no longer lists this issue on his website, however his stance and voting record is readily available. It is that like McCain he supports civil unions, but not marriage. He like McCain also believes this is an issue to be decided by each state, not the federal government, or courts.

Wow, it kinda seems like we have agreement between the two candidates for President.

Where do the VP's stand?

Biden agrees with Obama's stance, but did at one point say he thinks gay marriage is inevitable even though he does not agree with it.

Palin has not had to face same sex marriage on a national level, however, she supported Alaska’s decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex marriage. However, she used her first veto as governor to block a bill that would have prohibited the state from granting health benefits to same-sex partners of public employees. Ms. Palin said she vetoed the bill because it was unconstitutional, but raised the possibility of amending the state Constitution so the ban could pass muster. 

What do you think? Why has something that has has been a rallying cry for both sides for many years, become such a non-issue? Does anyone still care?

Here we go!

I've decided to start blogging again. Its been a long time since I've done this on a regular basis, but I'm going to try it. The reason I feel compelled to speak is simple. I'm sick and tired of reading one sided blogs, that are quick to attack, complain, and use certain facts in a negative manner. 

Politics can be positive and respectful, and should be about issues and facts. I'm not just talking about the two or three hot button issues, like abortion or gay marriage, or taxes. These are important issues, but they are just a few of dozens, if not hundreds of issues that we all should consider, and I'm going to do my best to touch on many of these issues. Will I share opinions, of course, but in the process I'll try to be positive, give you the truth, and hopefully make you think. 

Now, sometimes we don't like the truth, especially if we have already made up our mind about something. This can lead to being defensive and temp us to attack, but lets try and keep our discussions respectful. Oh, and if you feel I'm going negative, or being to one sided, let me know, I'm human too.